Conifer — Needle Cluster Study (Specimen No. 004)

Collected during the colder stretch of the year. Growth appears unaffected by surrounding dormancy; scales remain firm, layered along a flattened plane.

Drying produces minimal distortion. Slight contraction observed, primarily along the outer edges. Structure holds. No collapse.

Copper adheres first to the outermost ridges, then gathers across the surface. The existing arrangement dictates the final form. No correction required. In several areas, colour shifts occur — small deposits of blue and green emerging between the copper, irregular but stable.

Variation between specimens is consistent with original growth patterns. Density and spread differ, but the underlying structure remains reliable. The scent persists longer than expected. It tends to linger on the hands.

Margin note:
Handled again this morning. The scent is still there — sharper now, almost resinous. It does not belong to the workshop.